Accordion



Nov. 11,1930. c 10m ET AL 1,781,394

ACCORDION Filed Feb. 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11, 1930. c, IQRIO ET AL ACCORDION Filed Feb 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11, 1930. c, IQRIO ET AL ACCORDION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1929 w y ya Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCORDION- Application filed February 20, 1929. Serial No. 341,321.

This invention relates to improvements in accordions, and has for one of its objects the provision of an accordion provided with a key board so arranged thereon that the keys are within sight of the player and are within easy reach of his hand, so that the player does not have to strain his head and hand while playing the instrument.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an accordion having a keyboard removably mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to produce an accordion in which the keys will simultaneously operate a plurality of key levers controlling valves in communication with the reed chambers located in different zones of the accordion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an accordion having banks of reed 2 chambers so located therein that when the instrument is played sound will simultaneously emanate from various parts of the instrument and the said sound will be so distributed as to enhance the quality thereof.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide an accordion having means to prevent the warping of the keyboard thereof.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum 0 simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear.

as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-rel'ation of parts herein fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the 40 several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims. 7

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration. is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved accordion.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof partly in section, with the keyboard removed an some of the parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a fragmental frontview of the ilnstrument looking from the bottom of Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the accordion showing the arrangement of the various banks of reed chambers and Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the instrument taken on line 55 Fig. 2, but with the keyboard in place.

In the piano keyboard accordions now commonly used the said keyboard is located at the extreme right end of the instrument when in upright or playing. position, this location has a two fold disadvantage, in that the player has to strain his hand when operating the lowermost keys and also his head and eyes when looking upon the said keyboard.

Another serious defect is that the reed chambers are located in one area or zone so that when the instrument is played the sound is not properly distributed, that is, it is more or less confined and the full tone does not reach the hearer, thus igreatly diminishing the volume and quality 0 the music.

To obviate these disadvantages, we have provided a piano keyboard accordion in which the keyboard and reed chambers are so arranged that-the full tone of the notes reaches the hearer and the player is enabled to play the instrument without undue stress or strain.

Referring now to the drawings in detail 10 indicates a sound chamber housing in communication with the usual bellows 11.

Mounted on the housing 10 is a keyboard 12 removably secured thereto, by screws 13 passing through brackets '14 secured to both 'ends of the said keyboard. Keys 16 and 17 are pivotally mounted in said keyboard on a rod 18 and are each provided with a tension controlling pin or screw 19, in contact with the 10 20 overlie and are in contact with extensions 30 on arms 31 of bell crank levers 32 pivotally mounted on a rod 33 supported in a bell crank lever nest 34 at the lower front portion of the housing 10. The said. bell crank levers 32 are each provided with a valve cover 35 which are forced by springs 36 against valve openings 37 in communication with reed chambers 38 in a reed chamber unit 39 located in the lower front portion of the housing 10 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). Perforated plates 40 and 41 are secured to the housing 10 to permit the sound to emanate from the instrument when played.

The top edge of the keyboard 12 (see Figs.

. 1 and 5) is provided with a metal U shaped trough 43 which serves the double purpose of acting as a key stop and antiwarp member for the keyboard. The top flange 45 of the said member 43 acts as a stop to limit the downward movement of the keys 16 and a felt pad 46 secured to the inner surface of the flange 45 acts as a stop for a plate 47 on the underside of the keys 16 to limit the upward movement of said keys. The keys 17 are similarly limited in their movement by projections 49 and 50 alternately contacting with a cushion 51 and a plate 52 to which the said cushion is secured, the plate 52 being secured to a key housing 53.

It will be seen that when either a key 16 or 17 is depressed the' screw 19 will depress the lever arms 20 which will simultaneously actuate the bell crank lever 32 and the lever 24 and swing sameabout their pivots to open or lift the valve covers 35 and 25 from their seats and permit the sound to esca e from the reed chambers 38 and 27, thus di using or spreading the sound from two different areas thereby enhancing the volume and tone qualities of the said sound.

It will also be understood that the keyboard can readily be removed and the pressure controlling screws 19 adjusted for each key without disturbing their respective key levers.

From the foregoing it will also be seen that we have provided an accordion in which the keys when depressed will operate a plurality of key levers controlling reed chambers located at different areas of the instrument to distribute the sound over a greater area than in the accordionsnow in use, and one in which the keyboard may readily be removed for re placing or key adjustment without disturbing the key lever mounting and one in which the keyboard is so located that the player can play the instrument without straining his hands, head or eyes.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing, a reed chamber unit located in one part of the said housing, a second reed chamber unit located in a different part of the housing, a set of pivoted key levers controlling the first mentioned reed chamber unit, a second set of pivoted key levers in direct contact with the first mentioned key levers and controlling the second reed chamber unit, playing keys, and extensions on the said keys in engagement with one set of key levers to simultaneously operate both sets of key levers when depressed.

2. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing, a reed chamber located in one part of the said housing, a second reed chamber located in a different part of the housing, a key lever controlling the first mentioned reed chamber, a key lever controlling the second reed chamber underlying and in direct contact with the first mentioned key lever, a key, and means on the said key to simultaneously operate both key levers when the said key is depressed.

3. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing, a plurality of reed chamber units located therein and in communication with valve openings in one wall thereof, a set of pivotally mounted key levers, a cover on each of the keys to cover a predetermined number of valve openings, a reed chamber unit located at a different part of the housing in communication with openings in another wall disposed at an angle to the first mentioned wall of the housing, a second set of pivotally mounted key levers in operative engagement with the first mentioned key levers, a valve opening cover on each of the keys of the said second set, playing keys, and extensions on each of the keys in engagement with the first mentioned key levers to simultaneously operate a key lever in both sets when one of the keys' is depressed.

4. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing, sound producing means in the housing and a keyboard spaced at a substantial distance from the playing end thereof so as to prevent the cramping of the keyboard playing hand.

,5. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing having openings at different zones and disposed at an angle to each other,-sets of sound producing mechanisms in operative relation to each other located at said zones of the said housing, and a keyboard having keys adapted to simultaneously operate a unit in each set of the sound producing mech- 'anism.

6. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing having openings at different zones and disposed at an angle to each other, reed chamber units located at the said zones in the housing, a bank of key levers controlling each reed chamber unit, the key levers of one bank being in operative engagement With the key levers of the other bank, a keyboard on the housing, keys pivotally mounted thereon and means on the keys to simultaneously operate a key lever in each bank when one of the said keys is depressed.

7. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing having openings at diflerent zones and disposed at an angle to each other, reed chamber units located at the said zones in the housing, a bank of key levers controlling each reed chamber unit, the key levers of one bank being in direct engagement with the key levers of the other bank,a keyboard onthehousing, keys pivotally mounted thereon, extensions on the keys to simultaneously operate a key lever-in each bank When one of the said keys is depressed, and a combined keystop and anti-Warp member on the said keyboard.

8. In an accordion, a sound chamber housing having openings at different zones and disposed at an angle to each other, sets of sound producing mechanisms in operative relation to each other located at the said zones of the said housing, and a keyboard removably secured to the housing and having keys for simultaneously operating a unit in each set of the sound producing mechanism.

CANDIDO IORIO. FRANK IORIO. 

